The parish of Kimbolton, of which the area is
5,140 acres, including 17 acres of inland water,
comprises the town or village of Kimbolton and the
hamlets of Stonely, to the east, and Wornditch, ½ mile
to the west. Newtown in the north and Over Stow,
adjoining Long Stow, also represent old hamlets;
while the site of the 14th-century district of Werkwell
(Wertwell, Qwertwell) is now unknown.

Kimbolton stands on the Bedfordshire border and the
jurisdiction of its lords has always extended into that
county. It gave its name to a hundred in 1086. (fn. 2)

The soil and subsoil are Oxford Clay, but chalk is
found and there is gravel in the Kym valley. The
land is mostly pasture, and the district was formerly
noted for its shorthorns. There is, however, a fair
amount of arable land, which in 1279 amounted to
700 acres, (fn. 3) a considerable quantity for that date.
Kimbolton has always been a woodland district, and
in 1086 there was woodland for pannage a league
square. From the grove called 'la haie' Richard
Russell, (fn. 4) who had custody of Kimbolton from 1178 to
1185, took 222 oaks for building a court and chamber
in Leicestershire. (fn. 5) 'La Haye' or 'Heywode,' containing 200 acres, belonged to the manor in 1275–9. (fn. 6)
In the next century there is mention of 'Lythlehay'
(now Littless Wood) in Stonely between the park
called Brythamwyk (Brihtelmewick, xii-xiii cent.;
Brykhamwyke, xvi cent.; Brycknell, Brightholme,
xvii cent.) (fn. 7) in the lord's demesne and Lyminge
(now Lymage) Wood (fn. 8) in Great Staughton. A keeper
of this park and of Hyghwode wood (now represented
by Highpark Farm) was appointed in 1544. (fn. 9) The
park was parcel of the castle demesnes in 1610, (fn. 10) and
in 1615 was conveyed to Sir Henry Montagu. (fn. 11)
Dudney (Dudenhey) Wood, on the east side of the
parish, is mentioned in the 13th century, (fn. 12) and was
perhaps one of the three groves belonging to the
Earl of Hereford in 1301. (fn. 13) In 1544 Stonely Priory
was recorded to have held four groves of wood in
Kimbolton. (fn. 14) There were two foresters among the
'burgenses and cottars' of Kimbolton in 1279. (fn. 15)

The River Kym, which before it enters the western
boundary of the parish is known as the River Til,
flows south-east through the middle of the parish and
town. The land adjoining it is about 100 ft. above
the Ordnance datum and rises to just under 250 ft.
on the northern boundary and to just over 200 ft.
on the southern boundary. The chief hills are
Honeyhill (Honyhill, xvi cent.), Hungry Hill, Over
Hills and Warren Hill.

The town of Kimbolton is 2¼ miles from Kimbolton
station on the London Midland and Scottish Railway. It lies along the road from Higham Ferrers to
St. Neots in the valley of the Kym, which skirts its
north-east side. As occurs in so many market towns,
the main road has been diverted so as to pass through
the High Street and Market Place in order to collect
the tolls from passengers and merchandise. The
street leading south-west from the line of the main
road is called George Lane, after the George Hotel,
a good 17th-century house, at the end of the lane,
which has been converted into an hotel. The High
Street, (fn. 16) which carries the main road through the town,
is a fine wide road with a footpath on either side
marked off by posts, and having the arched gateway
of the back entrance to the castle precincts at one
end and the church at the other. The Market Place
probably adjoined the churchyard and extended as
far as might be necessary along the broad High Street.
Here probably stood the cross to which there is
reference in 1487, (fn. 17) and here was the Market Hall,
a wooden building on pillars, the site of which is
marked by a flat stone. The houses on both sides
of the street are timber-framed buildings of the
17th century or brick buildings of the 18th century,
many of them converted from private houses into
shops or inns and remodelled to adapt them to their
new uses. On the north-east side a good 16th-century
house with 17th-century additions has been divided
and converted into an inn and a shop, and the White
Horse Hotel has a stone at the back bearing the date
1640. The remainder of the houses on this side of the
street are of the 17th century and later, as also are
those on the opposite side. In the vicarage garden,
south-west of the church, are the remains of a moat.
At the church the street curves back to the line of the
main high road. Parallel to the High Street on the
north-east is East Street, which has some 17th-century
houses much altered and remodelled in the 18th
century and later. A house towards the north-west
has a painted sundial.

Although we have reference in 1279 to the burgesses
and cottars of Kimbolton and of burgage land,
and in the wills of the 15th and 16th centuries
we find references to 'burgages,' (fn. 18) there does not
seem to be any other evidence of a borough with its
court and other appurtenances. The lord had a
market, view of frankpledge, gallows, pillory and
tumbril. The villeins of the manor held at the
will of the lord, paid aid and made redemption of
flesh and blood for their sons and daughters. (fn. 19) The
market town evidently grew up under the shadow
of the castle and continued an important place until
the 19th century, when it ceased to be a market town
about 1890, (fn. 20) and now has a decreasing population.
So far as we know, the first market was held under the
charter granted by King John in 1200 to Geoffrey
Fitz Piers, Earl of Essex, whereby a market was to be
held on Friday and a yearly fair for three days on the
eve of St. Andrew's Day and the two following days. (fn. 21)
In 1441 the Earl of Buckingham was granted two
fairs—namely, on Tuesday and Wednesday in Easter
week and on 2 and 3 July. (fn. 22) When Kimbolton was
bestowed on Sir Richard Wingfield in 1522 he received
a grant of the market on Friday and a yearly fair on
old St. Andrew's Day (11 Dec.); (fn. 23) the following year
he was granted a yearly fair on St. Mary Magdalen's
Day (fn. 24) (22 July). The market was discontinued about
1890. (fn. 25) Four fairs are now held yearly, three for
toys on Friday in Easter week, Friday in Whitsun
week and the Friday after old Michaelmas Day respectively, the fourth on 11 December, called Tandry
Fair (St. Andrew's Fair, held on old St. Andrew's
Day), while a statute fair for hiring servants is held
on 21 September or the nearest Wednesday. Lacemaking was carried on early in the 19th century. (fn. 26)

About a mile westward along the high road leading
from the village is the hamlet of Wornditch, with
Wornditch Farm, a 16th-century brick and stone
house with a part of timber framing, remodelled in
the 17th century, and Wornditch Hall, which from
early in the 18th century was the residence of the Day
family. Thomas Day, who died in 1775, left his
property here and at Spaldwick to his eldest son
Thomas, with reversion under certain conditions to a
younger son John. Thomas married late in life, leaving
a son Thomas, whose paternity was disputed by his
uncle John. Two lawsuits followed in 1784 and
1797, at both of which the paternity of the younger
Thomas was confirmed. In 1801, however, to save
further litigation, Thomas conveyed Wornditch to his
cousin John, son of John Day, but retained his property at Spaldwick. (fn. 27) From John Day Wornditch
passed to his descendants, who sold it to Charles
Robert Wade-Gery about 1900. His widow lived
there until her death about 20 years later, when it
was sold to Mr. Reuben Llewellyn Farley, the
present owner.

Ilfield, apparently in Wornditch, is mentioned in
the 14th and 15th centuries. (fn. 28)

Warren House, about half a mile south-east of the
village, is a square building with a porch on the southwest front, over which is a gable. It was built in the
17th century from 16th-century material brought
from the old castle.

The hamlet of Stonely is about three-quarters of a
mile south-east of the town of Kimbolton and to the
east of Kimbolton Park. Along Hatchet Lane here
are some 17th-century timber-framed cottages. The
site of the Augustinian priory dedicated to the Blessed
Virgin is now marked by portions of the moat which
surrounded it and the remains of some masonry in
a little building on the site. In 1582 it was stated that
a chapel called 'Our Ladie Chapple' sometime stood
near the late priory, which would probably be the
church of the priory. A way called 'Saynte Marye
Waye' led from the chapel to Perry; it lay along a
highway until it came to Lady Grove, then entered
the Prior's Pasture, and through this pasture to Perry
Green and Perry; the way through the Prior's Pasture
was first 'dyched' in Sir Oliver Leder's time. (fn. 29) An
investigation of 1591 as to the lands of the priory in
Overstow, Wornditch and Newtown mentions a
Great Pasture in Overstow on the north side of
Fylmans (Fillman, Feldman) Waye, Longbreach
Furlong north of the way by the Upper Pasture called
Beggerums, Ridds Way, Overshortlands, Nethershortlands, Yardes Endes, Goodwinsellhill, Badwinsellhill, Fernellhill and other field-names. (fn. 30)

There were meeting-houses at Kimbolton and
Wornditch in 1672. (fn. 31) The vicar, Philip Nye, who died
in that year, organised an Independent church here
before 1643, when he was summoned to the Westminster
Assembly of Divines. (fn. 32)

John Martin (1741–1820) was Baptist minister here
towards the end of the 18th century. (fn. 33) A Moravian
chapel was built in 1823, a dissenting chapel was
registered for marriages in 1839, (fn. 34) and a Baptist and
Independent chapel in 1854. (fn. 35)

The endowed Grammar School was founded in
1600 by Henry Bayle, a fuller, and William Dawson,
a baker, of Kimbolton. Being dilapidated, it was
demolished in 1874, and a larger school was constructed in 1877 on the Tilbrook road. The Council
School dates from 1838. There was an almshouse
before 1500, apparently in the High Street near the
church, (fn. 36) and buildings were erected for the poor in
1701 adjoining the south-west corner of the churchyard, but were pulled down in 1877, when houses were
built in the Grass Yard at the opposite corner of the
churchyard for four women. (fn. 37) Mandeville Hall (1914),
on the Thrapston road, was raised in memory of
Louise, Duchess of Devonshire, previously Duchess
of Manchester.

In 1279 there was a windmill at Newtown, (fn. 38)
perhaps the windmill, etc., described as in Kimbolton, Great Staughton, Overstowe and Netherstowe sold to Sir John Popham in 1607 by Sir
Anthony Mildmay, Sir Richard Wingfield, Sir
Francis Popham, Sir Robert Wingfield, Sir Thomas
Wingfield, Robert Throckmorton and John
Pickering. (fn. 39)

There was an inclosure of 1,038 acres in Kimbolton, the award for which is dated 1769, (fn. 40) and also
an inclosure of 748 acres at Wornditch, the award for
which is dated 1795.

Reproduced by permission of the Controller of H.M. Stationery Office from the Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, Hunts.

Castle

It is probable that Geoffrey Fitz Piers,
who married the elder daughter and coheiress of William de Say in 1185 (fn. 41) and
was created Earl of Essex in 1199, was the original
builder of the castle. There may have been a small
castle here at Castle Hill thrown up during the anarchy
of Stephen's reign (fn. 42) before this date, but the existing
site, there can be little doubt, dates from the time of
Geoffrey Fitz Piers. The castle was certainly built
before 1201, when the Earl received King John in his
manor here. (fn. 43) John was evidently so much enchanted
with the place that in 1205 he granted lands in Brampton and Alconbury to be held by the service of providing fish, wine and hay once yearly when the king
should wish to visit Kimbolton, (fn. 44) and visited it again
in 1213. (fn. 45) William, brother and heir of Geoffrey
son of Geoffrey Fitz Piers, forfeited Kimbolton, and
on its restoration in 1217 we have the earliest direct
mention of a castle. (fn. 46) It was attacked in 1221 by the
Earl of Albemarle, who was ignominiously repulsed. (fn. 47)
Although it had its constable in 1236 (fn. 48) and its seneschal
in 1243 (fn. 49) and is called a castle, it is described in 1279
as a fortalace (forcelet'), (fn. 50) which implies something
less than a fully developed castle. While held by
Humphrey de Bohun, who fell at the battle of
Boroughbridge in 1322, and whose wife was Elizabeth,
daughter of Edward I, the castle was garrisoned and
provisioned by the king. (fn. 51) Edward II visited his
nephew John, Earl of Hereford, in 1326 (fn. 52) at Kimbolton, and Edward III was there in 1334. (fn. 53)

It is said that Anne, Duchess of Buckingham (d.
1480), rebuilt the greater part of the inner court of the
castle (fn. 54) and in 1463 considerable expense was incurred
for lead for roofing brought from Derbyshire. (fn. 55) The
castle is described in 1521 as 'a right goodly lodging
contained in little room, within a moat well and compendiously trussed together in due and convenient
proportion, one thing with another, with an inner
court, for the most part builded within sixty years by
Duchess Anne, wife of Duke Humphrey, slain at
Northampton field. There are lodgings and offices for
keeping a duke's house in stately manner'; but, 'by
occasion of the old maintill wall, the hall there well
builded is likely to perish; and through the said castle
is and will be great decay, by occasion there is no
reparations done.' Outside the moat was 'a convenient
room for a base court, now used like a gresse close'; in
it were 'a fair barn and goodly houses fit for stables.' (fn. 56)

In 1522 the king gave the castle to Sir Richard
Wingfield, and the next year he granted him leave
to take stone and lead from the ruined castle of
Higham Ferrers for the rebuilding of this castle. (fn. 57)
A few years later Leland tells us: 'The Castelle is
double diked and the building of it is metely strong.
. . . Syr Richard Wingfield builded new fair lodgyns
and galeries upon the olde foundations of the Castelle.' (fn. 58) The double dykes were probably something
like the double moat at Cretingsbury, (fn. 59) because the
date of building was rather too late for a motte-castle.

The story of Queen Katharine's unhappy sojourn
here in 1534 has already been told. It does not seem
to have entailed any structural alterations, and probably Sir Richard's building stood unaltered when, in
1615, the castle came into the possession of Sir Henry
Montagu. Inventories of furniture taken in 1642
and 1687 tell us that it had a great hall with screens,
a long gallery, a chapel, dining room, drawing room,
upper round chamber, lower round chamber, Queen's
Chamber, and many other rooms, a gatehouse,
stables, 'the Castle Court,' 'the Dyall Court,' 'the
Great Garden,' 'the Little fountain Garden.' (fn. 60)
Unfortunately the inventories give no indication of
the position of any of these rooms, but it is possible,
from various sources, to locate a few of them. The
great hall was the present White Hall, but included
the site of the present drawing room (once the
billiard room); the sixth Duke found the feet of the
ancient rafters still remaining in the walls of the latter
room. A bow window of this room, of which mention
is made, was probably the great bow window of the
dais of the hall. The screens would be at the other
end; and the withdrawing room occupied part of
the position of the present green drawing room.
The long gallery occupied the site of the saloon, but
was probably longer at each end, and it did not project
beyond the general line of the front wall as the saloon
does. Next to it were Queen Katharine's bedchamber
and closet, which are said to have survived unaltered,
but it is obvious that they had new windows and
doors inserted in 1707, and apparently other alterations have been made. The chapel and the archway
adjoining it doubtless still occupy their original
positions, and the gatehouse, we may assume, stood
away from the castle proper, on the western side of
the outer moat.

Apparently Charles, 4th Earl, erected a range of
rooms with a staircase and passages, chiefly to improve the communications, in the courtyard, against
the old south wing. In 1694–5 he rebuilt the inner
wall of the north wing to correspond, although he
probably did not add any new rooms or passages on
this side. (fn. 61) About the same time the inner walls of
the east and west ranges were rebuilt. In 1707 the
old south wing fell down, with the exception of
Queen Katharine's bedchamber and closet, and Sir
John Vanbrugh was called in to rebuild it. He
replaced the long gallery with a large saloon, (fn. 62) which
projects in front of the main wall and has an outer
door in the centre with a flight of steps down to the
garden, and he faced Queen Katharine's rooms to
match his new work. This rebuilding was finished
early in 1709; and within the next few years the
remaining fronts of the castle were rebuilt, a large
portico being erected on the east side in front of the
White Hall.

The castle as it stands to-day has on the east
front, which now constitutes the state approach, a
large portico with Doric columns and a large flight
of steps; the rest of the front, flanking the portico,
has plain windows with segmental heads. The
south or garden front has a large doorway in the
centre, with flights of stairs to the garden, and the
remainder, which is very plain, has large windows
like those on the east front. The west front, which
was the original approach, has a large carriage archway
in the centre, and similar windows to those of the
other sides; the north and south ranges project
beyond the main line of this front, and they also rise
slightly above it, giving it a more interesting character
than the other fronts. The north front has similar
windows to the rest; the middle portion stands on an
arcade of five elliptical arches with rusticated piers,
and has an added story which brings its parapet up
to the level of those of the angle buildings. The
whole of the fronts are faced with stone; they have
rusticated angle pilasters and coarse embattled
parapets. The walls facing the central courtyard are
faced with red bricks and the windows and doors
have stone architraves. The great hall, on the east,
has three large windows and a doorway, the latter
with a segmental pediment and surmounted with the
Montagu arms and supporters; the wall is divided
into bays by four Corinthian pilasters, and a stone
staircase with iron balustrades leads up to the door.
The other three sides have three tiers of windows,
and that on the west has a round-headed carriage
archway.

Inside, the principal rooms are all on the first floor.
The White Hall has Ionic pilasters flanking the doors,
a deep cornice and a coved ceiling. The saloon has
Corinthian columns and pilasters, frieze and cornice,
and a panelled ceiling. Queen Katharine's bedchamber
is panelled with panelling of 1709. The walls of the
chapel are panelled, and at the gallery level are three
semicircular arches. The great staircase, much
modernised, has some richly carved screenwork and
arches. Many of the other rooms have 17th-century
panelling and beams. One of the thick walls on the
ground floor of the south range has a 16th-century
doorway with four-centred arch and moulded jambs,
and also a blocked window. Another similar doorway
on the ground floor is at the southern end of the old
east wall of the courtyard. Many other old walls
and features must remain, but are covered by later
plaster and panelling.

The moats have been entirely filled up, and their
position cannot be identified. The grounds round the
castle were laid out with terraces on at least three
sides, and on the south was a great garden having a
lawn flanked by two rows of lime trees, beyond which
was a large elliptical pond with shrubberies on each
side, and beyond this was another piece of ornamental
water; (fn. 63) all this was enclosed on the two sides by
brick walls ornamented with sixty-six stone flowerpots. Judging by Vanbrugh's letters, (fn. 64) it is probable
that the gardens had been made not long before
1707; but there is now little left of them. An
avenue of trees on the east side led to a gate and
drive connecting with the high-road.

The gatehouse opening on to the south end of
the town street was built by Robert Adam about
1766. It consists of a central archway between two
rusticated windows, the wall flanked and divided by
Doric pilasters supporting a frieze and cornice. On
each side are wings, each divided into bays by shallow
pilasters between which are semicircular arches each
containing a plain window. At the end of the wings
are buildings of one bay each, somewhat similar to
the central part. It is very doubtful if this building
stands on the site of the old gatehouse. The stone
gateway with iron gates at the north end of the gardens
was built by Adam at about the same time.

Manors

KIMBOLTON with the lands of its
soke formed the only estate of Harold
in Huntingdonshire in 1066. By 1086
it had passed to William de Warenne, when the
sokeland attached to it extended into Swineshead,
Great and Little Catworth in Huntingdonshire and
Keysoe and 'Hanefeld' in Bedfordshire. (fn. 65) Before
the middle of the 13th century Kimbolton had
become an honour (fn. 66) and comprised lands in Tilbrook,
Dean, Pertenhall and Little Staughton. Harold had
10 hides in Kimbolton assessed to the geld in 1066,
then worth £7, and in 1086 William de Warenne
held them and they had increased in value to
£16 4s. There were a priest and a church and a mill.
Two knights held a hide of land there. (fn. 67)

Mandeville. Quarterly or and gules.

Bohun of Hereford. Azure a bend argent cotised or between six lions or.

William de Warenne died in 1088, shortly after
being created Earl of Surrey. His eldest son, William,
joined Duke Robert of Normandy against Henry I
and forfeited his estates. (fn. 68) Kimbolton seems to
have been forfeited again later and was in the hands of
William Fitz Ranulph in 1130–1. (fn. 69) The Earl, however, was restored and died 1138, leaving three sons:
William, 3rd Earl of Surrey, Reginald, ancestor of the
baronial house of Mortimer, and Ralph. William
was killed in 1148 while on the Crusade, leaving an
only daughter Isabel, married first in 1153 to William,
Count of Mortain, second son of King Stephen. (fn. 70)
By agreement made in the same year between Stephen
and Henry, later King Henry II, most of the Warenne
lands were given to William, Count of Mortain,
who became Earl of Warenne and Surrey in right of his
wife. (fn. 71) William died childless in 1159 (fn. 72) and Kimbolton
and its soke were granted to William de Say, who was in
possession in 1160–1. (fn. 73) The new owner was the son
of William de Say and Beatrice, sister of Geoffrey
de Mandeville, first Earl of Essex. He died in 1177;
his two daughters and co-heirs, Beatrice and Maud,
being under age, (fn. 74) the custody of Kimbolton and its
co-heirs was given to Richard Russell. (fn. 75) In 1185
Geoffrey Fitz Piers married Beatrice, (fn. 76) and William
de Bokeland of Buckland (Berks) married Maud.
Beatrice received Kimbolton, and in 1191 and 1198
Richard I confirmed the division of the inheritance
made in the time of his father. (fn. 77) Beatrice died in 1197,
two years before her husband
was created Earl of Essex in
her right. He was succeeded
in 1213 by their son Geoffrey,
Earl of Essex and Gloucester,
who assumed the surname of
Mandeville and died childless
in 1216. His brother, William
de Mandeville, succeeded, but
had forfeited his own lands
by joining the baronial party
in 1215. He was restored in
1217, and had livery of his
brother Geoffrey's lands, including Kimbolton. On his death childless in 1227,
his wife Christine received it in dower with reversion
to Maud, his sister. Maud's
first husband was Henry de
Bohun, Earl of Hereford,
ancestor of the new line of
lords of Kimbolton; on his
death in 1220 she married
Roger de Dauntsey of
Dauntsey, Wiltshire, from
whom she was granted a
divorce, which was revoked
by the Pope. Roger had livery
of Kimbolton Castle in July
and the Countess died in
August 1236. (fn. 78) In 1237 Ralph
de Mortimer claimed 4 carucates of land here against her son Humphrey, Earl of
Hereford, (fn. 79) probably as descendant of William de
Warenne. (fn. 80) Humphrey became Earl of Essex after his
mother's death. (fn. 81) He forfeited Kimbolton by supporting Simon de Montfort, but recovered it in 1265, (fn. 82) and
settled it on the marriage of his son, Humphrey, to
Joan, daughter of Robert de Quincy, youngest son
of the Earl of Winchester. (fn. 83) Humphrey died in his
father's lifetime, leaving a son Humphrey, who succeeded his grandfather in 1275. (fn. 84) His mother held
the castle, manor and advowson of the church until
her death in 1283. (fn. 85) He was lord in 1285, (fn. 86) but died
in 1298, apparently still without having recovered Kimbolton, (fn. 87) which had been seized owing to his defiance
of the king at Salisbury two years previously. (fn. 88) His
son and heir Humphrey married Elizabeth, Countess
of Holland, daughter of Edward I, in 1302, when
Kimbolton and other manors and the constableship
of England were settled on them and their heirs, with
reversion to the Crown. (fn. 89) This Earl was slain at
Boroughbridge in 1322. (fn. 90) His elder son John died
childless in 1336 and his
younger son Humphrey succeeded, (fn. 91) dying unmarried in
1361. His heir was Humphrey,
son of his brother William, (fn. 92)
Earl of Northampton, who
united the three earldoms of
Northampton, Hereford and
Essex. He died seised in
1373, leaving two daughters,
Eleanor and Mary, aged 7 and
3 respectively, (fn. 93) and a widow,
Joan (d. 1419), to whom
Kimbolton was assigned in
dower. In 1377 Joan claimed
that Kimbolton belonged to
the constableship of England
and so was quit of all custom and particularly from
assessment for the repair of Huntingdon Bridge. (fn. 94)
The claim was probably not allowed, as we hear no
more of it. Eleanor, the elder daughter of Humphrey,
Earl of Northampton, married the king's youngest
son, Thomas de Woodstock, who was made Constable of England, Earl of Buckingham, and in
1385 Duke of Gloucester. He was murdered at
Calais in 1397, and his lands were a few days afterwards forfeited to the Crown. His son Humphrey
died in 1399, before the reversal of the forfeiture, (fn. 95)
leaving his sister Anne, wife of Edmund, Earl of
Stafford, as heir to his
mother's moiety of the Bohun
estates, his aunt Mary, wife
of Henry IV, being heir to
the other moiety. Under an
agreement for a partition of
the lands of Humphrey de
Bohun between Anne and
Henry V, son of Mary, made
in 1421, Kimbolton fell to
Anne. (fn. 96) She died in 1438,
her husband having predeceased her in 1403. (fn. 97) Her
son Humphrey, Earl of Buckingham, Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, was
created Duke of Buckingham in 1444, and in 1447
he had a grant of special precedence. (fn. 98) He settled
the castle and manor on himself and his wife Anne
in 1442. (fn. 99) He died in 1460, when his heir was
Henry, aged 4, son of his deceased son Humphrey. (fn. 100)
Henry was acknowledged as Lord High Constable
in 1483, but on joining the plot of the Earl of
Richmond was beheaded and attainted in the same
year. (fn. 101) For their good services to the king, Kimbolton formed part of the grant to the Stanleys
in 1484, (fn. 102) but was apparently resumed, as in 1485
the castle, manor, lordship and soke were granted
in dower to Katharine, formerly wife of the attainted duke (fn. 103) and then Duchess of Bedford. (fn. 104) In
the same year their son Edward, the most famous
Duke of Buckingham, was restored to all his honours,
afterwards becoming the greatest personage at the
court of Henry VIII. He was accused of high treason
and executed in 1521, when all his honours were
forfeited. (fn. 105) In 1522 the manor, castle, market and
fair of Kimbolton were granted in tail male and at a
rent of £40 (fn. 106) to Sir Richard Wingfield, who had
married, as her third husband, Katharine Wydville,
widow of Henry, Duke of Buckingham. In 1523 the
rent was released, the whole
to be held as a knight's fee. (fn. 107)
Wingfield was a man of considerable power. 'Who has
more influence with the king
than Wingfield?' Latimer
asked. (fn. 108) He died at Toledo in
1525, leaving a son and heir,
Charles, aged 12 years, (fn. 109) by
his second wife Bridget,
daughter and heir of Sir John
Wilshire. (fn. 110) Charles married
Jane, daughter of Robert
and sister of the famous Sir
Francis Knollys, and died
seised in 1540 leaving a son Thomas, aged one
year, (fn. 111) whose wardship and marriage the king
granted to Sir Richard Cromwell. (fn. 112) Thomas seems
to have led rather a wild life, and in 1580 his uncle
Sir Francis asked for letters from the Council to
repress his nephew's unruly doings. His 'simplicitie'
is spoken of, and the custody of the lands and woods
despoiled by himself and his prodigal son, Edward,
was given to his uncle and Sir Walter Mildmay. (fn. 113)
He died seised in 1592 and was succeeded by his son
Edward, (fn. 114) called 'the great warriour,' (fn. 115) who had been
knighted by 1588. (fn. 116) He died in 1603, leaving a son
and heir Sir James, (fn. 117) who, with his mother Mary
and his wife Elizabeth, conveyed the manor in 1606
to Sir Charles Montagu, kt., and others, apparently
as a marriage settlement for Elizabeth. (fn. 118) The
property was heavily encumbered and in 1610 the
king granted it for assurance of title to Sir James
in tail male. (fn. 119) In 1615 Sir James sold the reversion
to Sir Henry Montagu, serjeant-at-law, (fn. 120) and in the
same year conveyed the estate
to the king, (fn. 121) who regranted
it to Sir Henry Montagu, (fn. 122)
younger brother of Edward,
first Baron Montagu of
Boughton. Sir Henry was
created in 1620 Baron Montagu of Kimbolton and Viscount Mandeville. In 1626
he was created Earl of Manchester and died in 1642. His
son Edward, the well-known
Parliamentary general, died in
1671. From this date the
manor has passed with the
Earldom and Dukedom of Manchester, and William
Angus Drogo, the ninth Duke, is the present owner. (fn. 123)

Bohun of Northampton. Azure a bend argent cotised or between six lions or with the difference of three molets gules on the bend.

Stafford. Or a cheveron gules.

Wingfield. Argent a bend gules cotised sable with three pairs of wings argent on the bend.

Montagu. Quarterly: 1 and 4, Argent a fesse indented of three fusils gules in a border sable; 2 and 3, Or an eagle vert.

A long list of villeins and free tenants of Kimbolton
and its soke exists for 1279. At that time the lord
had gallows, view of frankpledge, pillory, tumbril,
and assize of bread and ale. (fn. 124) In 1285–6 the Earl of
Hereford's claim to view of frankpledge without the
king's officer being present was rejected. (fn. 125) The view
of frankpledge was held twice a year in 1523. (fn. 126) The
annual court leet is still held. (fn. 127) The lord's free chace
in the forest of Swineshead is mentioned in 1279, his
warren in 1373, (fn. 128) and a mill and several fisheries
descended with the manor.

STONELY PRIORY, to the east of Kimbolton
Park, it is stated by Leland, was founded by William
de Mandeville, Earl of Essex, in 1180, (fn. 129) and again,
that it was founded by the Bigrames. (fn. 130) Leland was
probably mistaken in the identification of the founder,
as the William de Mandeville, Earl of Essex, who was
living in 1180 did not hold Kimbolton. It is more
likely the founder was William, Earl of Essex, who
succeeded his brother Geoffrey in 1216 and died in
1227. The earliest reference to the priory is in 1279,
when the prior was a free tenant in Kimbolton,
holding 3 virgates with the appurtenances by gift of
Master Gilbert de Helpested, for celebrating mass
for his soul for ever; and Gilbert held of Peter de
Hardwick (chaplain (fn. 131)) and he of Sir Humphrey de
Bohun, lord of Kimbolton. The prior was also a
burgess (burgensis) of Kimbolton holding a cottage
and 3 acres by burgage tenure. (fn. 132) The additional
fact that the advowson of the priory belonged to the
lords of Kimbolton (fn. 133) makes it likely that their ancestor, the later William, Earl of Essex, was the founder.
Of the Bigrames we know nothing. The name survives in Bigrams Farm and Bigrams Lane. About
1272 Thomas de Bekering died seised, in right of his
wife, of 4 virgates of land in Werkwell in Kimbolton, (fn. 134)
and in 1279 Peter and Alice de Bekering, brother and
sister, each held 100 acres in Werkwell of Sir Thomas
de Bekering by their mother's grant and Sir Thomas
held of the lord of Kimbolton by the service of half
a knight's fee. (fn. 135) From this it would seem that Werkwell was a sub-manor of Kimbolton held by the
Bekerings. Thomas, son of Thomas de Bekering,
died seised of the field of Wornditch and of 2 carucates
of land at Werkwell about 1285. (fn. 136) In 1361 the Earl
of Hereford granted to the priory all the lands of
Sir Thomas de Bekering, knt., at Werkwell in the
parish of Kimbolton. (fn. 137) After the dissolution of
Stonely Priory, its lands were at first leased to Oliver
Leder, of Great Staughton (q.v.) in 1538, (fn. 138) and the
site and appurtenances were granted to him and his
wife Frances, in fee, in 1544. (fn. 139) They sold the estate
in 1552 to Thomas Mary Wingfield, a younger son
of Sir Richard Wingfield and Margaret his wife. (fn. 140)
Thomas Mary Wingfield died seised of the house and
site in 1557, leaving a son and heir, Edward Mary
Wingfield, aged 7, (fn. 141) who was born at Stonely. He
was one of the patentees of Virginia in 1606 and 1607
and accompanied the first colonists to Jamestown,
but returned in 1608. His diary has been amplified
and published as A Discourse of Virginia. (fn. 142) He was
in possession of Stonely in 1612, (fn. 143) and died unmarried
about 1614. (fn. 144) He had a brother Thomas Mary
Wingfield, (fn. 145) but Stonely was about this time acquired by the Montagus, and by 1655 the site of the
priory had been united to the Kimbolton estate, (fn. 146)
with which it has since descended. (fn. 147)

Church

The church of ST. ANDREW consists of a chancel (41½ ft. by 16 ft.),
north chapel (23¾ ft. by 16 ft.), south
chapel (21 ft. by 18¼ ft.), north vestry (14 ft. by
11½ ft.), nave (57 ft. by 23 ft.), north aisle (12¾ ft.
wide), south aisle (14¼ ft. wide), west tower (13 ft. by
13 ft.), and south porch. The walls are of rubble
and pebble rubble with stone dressings except the
south wall of the chancel, which is of red bricks; and
the roofs are covered with lead.

The church is mentioned in the Domesday Survey,
1086, but the oldest existing portion is the north arcade
of the nave, which dates from the middle of the 13th
century and indicates a nave of the same size as the
present. In the last quarter of the 13th century a
south aisle and arcade were added. About 1300 the
chancel and the chancel arch were rebuilt, and a few
years later the north aisle was probably rebuilt, for
the foundations of a 14th-century diagonal buttress
were found when the north-west corner was underpinned in 1921. Quite early in the 14th century the
tower was built, and the clearstory was added to the
nave about 1370. At the end of the 15th century
the south aisle was rebuilt and the porch and south
chapel added; the north aisle was rebuilt and the
north chapel added about 1500, the chancel being
largely rebuilt at about the same time. The south
wall of the chancel was rebuilt in the 18th century.
In 1748 the roofs of the chancel, the two chapels and
the nave were out of repair; (fn. 148) in 1787 a new beam
was inserted in the nave roof, and another in 1841. (fn. 149)
The vestry was built in 1847, and the chancel was
re-roofed in 1853; (fn. 150) and about the same time the
Montagu vault was formed in the north chapel, a
small porch for access to it being added some forty
years later. The whole church was restored in
1881–2; the spire in 1903, and the roofs of the nave,
aisles and chapels in 1930–1.

Reproduced by permission of the Controller of H.M. Stationery Office from the Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, Hunts.

The chancel, chiefly of the 15th century, has a
modern four-light east window with vertical tracery
in a four-centred head; previous to 1881 this window
was a mean four-light window with a nearly flat head. (fn. 151)
The north wall has a blocked three-light window of
c. 1300, formerly with intersecting tracery in a twocentred head, but mullions and tracery have gone;
an archway to the north chapel c. 1500, having a twocentred arch of two moulded orders, the lower order
carried on semicircular attached shafts with moulded
capitals; and a modern doorway to the vestry. The
south wall, partly rebuilt in red brickwork in the 18th
century, has a late 15th-century archway to the south
chapel, having a two-centred arch of two chamfered
orders, and an extra outer order on the south, the
lower order carried on semicircular attached shafts
with moulded capitals and bases, the latter much
damaged; and a plain 18th-century doorway with a
semicircular head and plain jambs. The chancel
arch, c. 1300, has a two-centred arch of three moulded
orders, the lower order resting on filleted shafts with
moulded capitals.

Above the chancel roof, visible on the outside only,
are two blocked openings, one with a square head and
the other lozenge-shaped. The roof is modern.

The vestry, dated 1847, has a four-centred doorway
under a square label, in the east wall; a two-light
window with tracery in a two-centred head, in the
north wall; and a fireplace in the south wall.

The north chapel, c. 1500, (fn. 152) has a four-light east
window with vertical tracery in a four-centred head.
The north wall has two similar three-light windows.
There is no arch between the chapel and the aisle,
but the chapel has been filled with a modern vault for
the Montagu family, and its present floor is about three
feet above the floor of the church. A shallow porch
gives access to this vault, and has a doorway with a
four-centred head and flanked by two buttresses
surmounted by pinnacles supporting heraldic beasts;
a shaped gable incloses a coat of arms (Montagu
and Monthermer quarterly), and is finished with an
heraldic finial.

The late 15th-century south chapel (fn. 153) has a fivelight east window with vertical tracery in a depressed
four-centred head. The south wall has two similar
two-light windows and a double piscina with fourcentred arches under a square head and having two
circular basins. In the north-west angle are the
rood-stairs, with a square-headed doorway. The
contemporary door has cinquefoiled headed panels.
There is no arch between the chapel and the aisle.

The mid 13th-century nave has an arcade of four
bays on each side, having two-centred arches of two
chamfered orders. That on the north is of mid 13thcentury date, and has one octagonal and two circular
columns and semi-octagonal responds, all having
moulded capitals with nail-head ornament and
moulded bases, except the west respond, which is
without the nail-heads, but has bold fleur-de-lis
carved on the capital. The labels of the arcade have
the nail-head ornament. That on the south is of the
late 13th century, and has circular columns and semicircular responds with moulded capitals and bases.
On the north side of the chancel arch is a niche,
c. 1500, with cinquefoiled head, under a crocketed
label between two pinnacles. The upper doorway of
the rood-stairs is in the south-east angle, and the
stairs are carried up in a small turret to the roof.

The clearstory, c. 1370, has four two-light windows
on each side, each with tracery in a two-centred head.

The 15th-century roof, much restored in 1930–1,
is of flat pitch and has moulded beams with jack-legs
and carved braces; and the feet of the jack-legs rest
on 14th-century corbels carved with grotesque heads
and with shields including a bend sinister, three
chevrons and a saltire. Marks of two earlier roofs
remain on the west wall, but covered by the plaster—
one the steep-pitched roof preceding the clearstory
and the other the low-pitched first roof of the clearstory. In 1855 the western bay was occupied by a
large organ gallery carried on four wooden classical
columns. (fn. 154)

The north aisle, c. 1500, has, in the north wall,
three three-light windows similar to those of the
north chapel; a doorway with four-centred head and
continuous moulded jambs; and a mutilated stoup.
The west wall has a window similar to the others.
The 15th-century roof, much restored in 1930, continues over the north chapel, and has moulded beams,
jack-legs and braces, and carved figures of apostles and
angels.

The late 15th-century south aisle has in the south
wall three three-light windows similar to those in
the south chapel; and a doorway with two-centred
head and continuous moulded jambs, and the label
(supported upon small circular attached shafts with
moulded capitals and bases) conjoined with a square
head inclosing traceried spandrels. The door itself
still retains a few portions of tracery. The west
wall has a three-light window with original jambs
and mullions but a modern segmental head of
debased type, the upper part of the wall having been
reset in the 18th century; a lead rainwater pipe head
close to is dated 1733. The late 15th-century roof,
much restored in 1931, and continuing over the south
chapel, has moulded beams, jack-legs and braces;
the carved bosses at the intersection of the timbers
include a shield bearing a chevron impaling a saltire,
another with a chevron, a badge of a swan, sacred
monograms, and foliage; at the feet of the jack-legs
and intermediate principals are figures of apostles and
angels.

The early 14th-century tower has a two-centred
tower arch of three chamfered orders resting on
similar responds with a simple impost moulding. The
west doorway has a two-centred arch of four moulded
orders—three of them having the ball-flower ornament—and resting on moulded jambs, each with four
attached shafts having moulded capitals and bases,
much restored; the moulded label is finished with
large carved animals as stops. The west window is of
two-lights with a plain spandrel in a two-centred
head. Above it is a blocked and altered single-light
window with a two-centred head; at the same level,
in the north wall, is a narrow loop, and apparently
another is in the south wall, covered by the clock-face;
and in the east wall is a blocked doorway with a twocentred head. The belfry windows are two-lights
with plain spandrels in two-centred heads. The
tower, which is divided into three stages by stringcourses, has buttresses square at the angles and
scarcely reaching the second string-course; and
in the middle of the north and south faces are intermediate buttresses rising a little above the first
string-course. At the level of the second stringcourse the face of the wall is set back, leaving shallow
clasping buttresses at the angles. The tower is
finished with a cornice ornamented with carved
heads, animals and birds, and from which rises an
octagonal broach spire, having three tiers of spire
lights, all on the cardinal faces, the lowest being
transomed two-lights with plain spandrels in twocentred heads, and with blind tracery in the gable
above; the middle tier being transomed two-lights
with a quatrefoil in a gabled head; and the top tier
being single-lights. Just above the lowest spire
lights are two moulded string-courses round the spire.
The tower stairs are in the north-west corner.

The late 15th-century south porch has a wavemoulded two-centred arch resting on semicircular
attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases, a
square-headed outer order with continuous moulded
jambs, pierced tracery spandrels, and a moulded label.
Above it is a very small niche with canopy cut off
and a projecting pedestal. The side walls have plain
four-centred wall arches with continuous chamfered
jambs, and each inclosing a blocked two-light window
with mutilated four-centred head, and the mullion
and tracery missing. In the north-east corner is a
mutilated stoup with four-centred head, chamfered
jambs and a broken basin on a semi-octagonal attached
shaft. The roof is modern, but retains one late
15th-century moulded tie-beam.

All the parapets are embattled except that of the
north aisle and chapel, which is plain; those of the
chancel have been partly rebuilt with brickwork, and
those of the north aisle and chapel and south chapel
entirely so. The parapets of the south aisle and
chapel have the lower parts of pinnacles at the angles
and over the buttresses.

The early 13th-century font has a square bowl
brought to an octagon by large chamfers having bold
hollowed stops at the bottom. The bowl came from
Little Stukeley, where it was used as a cattle trough
at the Manor Farm; it was brought to Kimbolton
in 1913, and set up in the church in 1918. It now
stands on a modern central and four smaller shafts.
The original font—cylindrical, with rude diagonal
lines and foliage—is said to lie in the garden of Ashfield
House, Kimbolton, (fn. 155) but was supplanted by a modern
font of poor design before 1851.

There are five bells, inscribed: (1) Henricvs
Bagley me fecit 1702. (2) His tribus hanc formam
Grenus dedit arte Joanes 1571. (3) Henry Penn
fvsore 1713. (4) William Eldridge made mee 1660.
(5) Ihs nasarenus rex Judeorum fili Dei miserere Dei
1634. The tenor is by Hugh Watts of Leicester. A
sanctus bell was sold in 1549–52; (fn. 156) and in 1552 there
were five bells in the steeple. (fn. 157) The oak bell-frame is
inscribed 1619—Allen, Thomas Young, C.W. In
1709 there were five bells; (fn. 158) in 1854 they were all
quarter-turned, (fn. 159) and in 1895–6 they were all rehung
by John Taylor and Co. of Loughborough.

At the entrance to the north chapel is a late 15thcentury oak screen of five and a half bays with cusped
and sub-cusped ogee heads, crocketed and finialed,
and with vertical tracery above. The posts have
attached buttresses and pinnacles; the central mullion
is omitted to form an entrance, and the top beam is
finished with carved brattishing. The lower part is
missing, and what remains has been somewhat
restored and stands upon a modern wall.

At the entrance to the south chapel is a late 15thcentury oak screen of four bays and a central opening.
The bays are generally similar to that on the north,
but the mullions have no attached buttresses. The
central opening has a cusped and sub-cusped twocentred arch with crocketed and finialed ogee label,
and the upper part is filled in with similar tracery to
the side bays. The cornice has flowered pateræ, but
no brattishing. The close lower part of the screen
has cusped and sub-cusped tracery, two panels to
each bay, and four of them are painted with figures
of the Virgin with St. Anne, St. Michael, St. Edmund
and St. Edward the Confessor.

In the vestry is a 17th-century chest with carved
front and top rail.

In the chancel are various pieces of funeral armour—
two helms with crests, two coronets, a tabard, two
swords, three gauntlets, two spurs, six standards
and banners, and seven hatchments. In the south
chapel are a helmet, two coronets, a tabard and one
hatchment.

In the head of the south-west window of the south
chapel are some remains of 15th-century painted glass,
including the figure of a man in ermine robes, and
below him the name 'Symon'; and there are some
other fragments in the east window of this chapel,
and in the east window of the north chapel.

About the middle of the last century some wall
paintings were discovered, including representations
of the seven deadly sins, but they were much decayed,
so were covered up again. (fn. 160)

In the south chapel there is a monument to Henry,
first Earl of Manchester, d. 1641, consisting of a black
marble slab supported on white marble columns and
arches, with coat of arms; against the wall behind
is an elliptical inscription tablet surmounted by an
achievement of arms, above which is a Corinthian
column carrying a helm and crest; two other columns
flank the monument and carry carved skulls. There
is also a monument to Lady Isabella (Rich), wife of
Sir John Smyth, d. 1632, having an inscription tablet
between two Doric columns supporting an entablature and shields of arms; also a monument to Lady
Anne (Rich), wife of the third Earl of Manchester,
d. 1641, with an inscription tablet in a cartouche standing on a pedestal; and a similar monument to Lady
Essex (Cheeke), another wife of the same Earl, d. 1658.

The registers are as follows: (i) baptisms, marriages
and burials 26 December 1653 to 5 June 1709, much
out of order; (ii) the same 4 September 1709 to 7 June
1748, somewhat damaged and the dates much out of
order—there are a few pages containing entries
from 21 March 1646 to 20 Feb. 165¾; (fn. 161) (iii) the
same—1748 to—1799, marriages end 17 June
1753, badly burnt at the top of all the pages;
(iv) baptisms and burials 2 January 1800 to 3 March
1811, and a loose sheet to 31 March 1812; (v) the
Official Marriage Book 19 April 1754 to 24 December
1798; (vi) the same 31 December 1798 to 9 November 1812.

The church plate (fn. 162) consists of a large late 16thcentury silver cup, partly gilt, with three shaped
brackets on stem, engraved with scenes of Bel and
the Dragon, Daniel in the lions' den, and Habakkuk
carried through the air by an angel, and inscribed
'Daniel XIII,' no date-letter; a silver cup,
inscribed 'The Gift of Henry Ashton to the Parrish
of Kimbalton. 1665,' and with his arms, Argent, a
mullet pierced Gules, and crest, A boar's head couped,
hall-marked for 1665–6; a silver cup, apparently a
copy of the last, inscribed 'The Gift of the Rev.
Thos. Ainsworth, Vicar, to the Parish Church of
Kimbolton, 1859,' hall-marked for 1859–60; a
17th-century silver standing paten, with no dateletter; a silver alms-dish with floral decoration in
repoussé work, c. 1600, no date-letter; a silvergilt flagon, inscribed 'The Gift of Thos. Day Esqr.,'
'45.16. 0,' hall-marked for 1750–1.

Advowson

There were a church and a priest
at Kimbolton in 1086, (fn. 163) and the
patronage passed with the manor
until Humphrey de Bohun granted it to Stonely Priory
in 1366. (fn. 164) In 1219 G. de Bocland, the rector,
appointed William perpetual vicar, with the consent
of William de Mandeville, the patron, saving to
Bermondsey Priory two parts of the small tithes of
the demesnes of the castle. (fn. 165) The two parts of
the small tithes are said to have been given to Bermondsey by Odo Dammartin and confirmed by
William de Say (fn. 166) (1161–77), and were acquired from
Bermondsey Priory by Stonely Priory in 1386 for a
perpetual rent of 6s. 8d. (fn. 167) In 1378 Stonely Priory
appropriated the rectory, and a vicarage was ordained
by John Bukingham, Bishop of Lincoln (1363–98),
by authority of Pope Gregory XI (1370–8). Pope
Urban VI (1378–89) having revoked all appropriations,
Pope Boniface IX (1389–1404) confirmed the appropriation of Kimbolton church in 1397. From 1378
the church had been served by canons of Stonely
Priory, a practice which the Pope confirmed. (fn. 168) The
advowson remained with the Priory of Stonely until
the Dissolution (fn. 169) in 1535.

In 1545 the rectory and advowson were granted to
Robert Springe and Thomas, his son. (fn. 170) In 1559
William Smyth and others had licence to alienate
the rectory, (fn. 171) and in 1580 he and Humphrey Michell
sold the rectory and advowson of the vicarage to
William (second son of Sylvester Bedell of Hamerton), (fn. 172)
lord of Molesworth (q.v.). William Bedell and the
vicar, Edward Robinson, had a dispute as to the payment of small tithes, which the parishioners claimed
had been commuted by the gift of a close of pasture
containing about 10 acres, given to the vicars by
two sisters called Passells in lieu of all such tithes. (fn. 173)
William Bedell sold the rectory and advowson in 1612
to Benjamin Browne and Francis Bedell (one of his
younger sons). (fn. 174) Sir James Wingfield and Francis
Bodenham conveyed half the rectory and advowson
of the vicarage in 1615 to Sir Henry Montagu. (fn. 175) In
1637 Henry, Earl of Manchester, presented, and from
1655 the rectory and advowson of the vicarage were
in the possession of the Earls and Dukes of Manchester, (fn. 176) who have ever since been patrons. (fn. 177)

In 1240 Richard de Bercham, chaplain, was
presented by the Earl of Hereford to the chapel of
Kimbolton and instituted as rector without cure of
souls. This chapel paid the mother church of
Kimbolton 6 lbs. of wax annually and had no land in
the parish, but 61 acres in neighbouring parishes. (fn. 178)
John de Byllyng, chaplain, is mentioned in 1344. (fn. 179)

A chapel of St. Mary at Stonely is mentioned in
1582, (fn. 180) and there was apparently a chapel at Wornditch.
There was a fraternity of Jesus in the parish to which bequests were made in the 15th and 16th century wills. (fn. 181)

Charities

Miss Anne Maria Harriett Welstead,
by will proved in the Principal
Registry 31 May 1881, gave £100 to
the vicar and churchwardens, the income to be distributed in coal to poor widows residing in the parish.
This is now represented by a sum of £99 17s. 6d.
2½ per cent. Consolidated Stock with the Official
Trustees, and the income is distributed in coal to poor
widows of the parish.

John Day, by will proved 29 Oct. 1836, gave to the
vicar and churchwardens a sum of money for the
benefit of poor communicants which is now represented by a sum of £99 0s. 2d. 2½ per cent. Consolidated Stock with the Official Trustees. The income
is distributed in money to poor communicants.

John Cannon, by will proved 19 Jan. 1782, gave
£50 to the vicar, churchwardens and overseers, the
income to be expended in paying a sum of 10s. to
the vicar for preaching a sermon every year and the
remainder to be distributed in bread to the poor.
The endowment now consists of £17 16s. 3d. 2½
per cent. Consolidated Stockwith the Official Trustees,
and the income is paid to the vicar for preaching a
sermon. The trustees are the vicar, churchwardens
and two persons appointed by the parish council in
place of the overseers.

Thomas Spackman, by will dated 8 March 1782, gave
a yearly rent-charge of 20s. issuing out of a close in
Stonely called Glovers Close, to be applied for the
benefit of the poor of the parish. This charge is
regularly paid and distributed by the vicar and two
others to the poor in money.

William Coleman, by will dated in 1717, gave out
of his dwelling house in Back Street, Kimbolton, 10s.
a year to be distributed among poor widows of the
parish and 10s. a year for a sermon to be preached on
St. Thomas's Day. The charge of 20s. a year is
regularly paid and applied in accordance with the will
of the donor.

William Desbrowe, by will in 1716, gave a close
of land containing 1 acre 2 roods in the Butts in
Kimbolton, the rents to be distributed amongst the
poor of the parish by the minister and churchwardens.
The land is now let and the rent, after deduction of
land tax, is distributed to the poor of the parish.

Parish Clerk's Fund.—The endowment of this
charity consisted of a piece of land known as Parish
Clerk Land in the parish of Kimbolton containing
1 acre 1 rood 18 poles, allotted under the Wornditch
Inclosure Award, dated 8 Nov. 1799, for the benefit
of the parish clerk. The land was sold in 1921
under the authority of an order of the Charity Commissioners and the proceeds invested in the purchase
of £30 4s. 1d. War Stock in the name of the Official
Trustees. The income is paid to the parish clerk.

Charities of Anne Countess Dowager of Manchester
and others.—By indentures of lease and release,
dated Feb. 1699, Henry Bull (in consideration of
£91, being the charitable gifts given to the poor of
Kimbolton by the persons after named: By Anne,
Countess Dowager of Manchester in 1698, £40;
by the Hon. Eleanor Montagu, daughter of the said
Anne, in 1695, £50; and by Jeremiah Burton, £1)
granted a close called Bull's Close containing 3 acres,
in trust for the use, relief and maintenance or support of the poor. The endowment now consists of
£284 12s. 1d. Consols, the dividends on which are
distributed in bread to the poor.

Charities of Lady Elizabeth and Lady Doddington
Montagu.—Lady Elizabeth Montagu in 1735 left
£12 10s. the interest to be given in bread to the poor,
and Lady Doddington Montagu in 1774 left 30
guineas for the poor. These two sums are now represented by £17 16s. 3d. Consols with the Official
Trustees and the income is distributed with the
charities of Anne, Countess Dowager of Manchester,
and others in bread to the poor.

William Ashton in 1722 bequeathed £50 for the
purchase of lands, the rents to be applied to the benefit
of 12 poor people of the parish in bread. This sum was
laid out in the purchase of land at Stonely containing
1 acre 2 roods. The land is now let, and the rent is distributed with the charities of Anne Countess Dowager
of Manchester and others in bread to the poor.

Loving's Dole.—Thomas Loving in 1557 gave out of
his close at Newtown to the poor of the parish 6s. 8d.
a year to be distributed among them by the churchwardens yearly on St. Thomas's Day. This annual
sum is regularly paid and laid out in the purchase
of 40 twopenny loaves which are distributed among
as many poor persons on St. Thomas's Day.

Allen's Gift.—William Allen in 1630 gave out of a
house in Kimbolton called the Sun Inn 30s. per
annum to be distributed among 20 of the poorest
people of the parish. This annuity is now paid by
Mrs. E. L. Welstead in respect of her house in Kimbolton, formerly the Sun Inn, and distributed in money
to the poor.

Nicholas Bull gave in 1608, out of his close at
Stonely, to the poor people inhabiting the Almshouse
in Kimbolton, a yearly sum of 6s. 8d. to be distributed
amongst them. He also gave, out of his lands at
Offord D'Arcy, 26s. 8d. yearly to the poor of Stonely,
10s. yearly to the poor of Kimbolton and 3s. 4d. yearly
to the chief inhabitants of Stonely for distributing the money. The annual payments, amounting
to £2, are paid by the owners of the lands charged,
and distributed to the poor in money, and the charge
of 6s. 8d. is now paid by the Duke of Manchester
and distributed among the inmates of the almshouses.

Peacock's Gift.—William Peacock by his will bequeathed a sum of £50 for the benefit of the inmates
of the almshouse. The sum is now represented by
£17 16s. 3d. Consols with the Official Trustees
and the income is distributed to the inmates of the
almshouses.

Love's Charity.—William Love in 1699 gave £10
to the poor of the parish which is reputed to have been
laid out in the purchase of a piece of copyhold land,
about ½ acre in the parish of Long Stow. This land
was surrendered in 1816 and another parcel purchased
in the parish of Kimbolton. The land has since been
sold and the proceeds invested in the purchase of
£67 8s. 4d. Consols in the name of the Official Trustees.
The income is distributed to the poor inmates of the
almshouses.

Thomas Day in 1857 left £100 for investment,
the interest to be divided amongst 15 poor old men
over 60 years of age on St. Thomas's Day. This
sum is now represented by £100 Consols, the dividends
on which are distributed in accordance with the will
of the donor.

The Dowager Duchess of Manchester, about the
year 1837, left a close at Stonely, the rent of which
was to be applied to benefit the poor in the matter
of clothing. The land is now let for about £6 per
annum which is paid into the Kimbolton Clothing
Club.

152. Possibly the chapel of St. Katharine,
to whom there had been an altar as early
as 1485, when Richard Godfrey left 40s. for
its ornamentation. In 1501 Richard
Ponde desired to be buried in the chapel
of St. Katharine Virgin and Martyr
(Wills, Archd. Hunt. Reg. ii, fols. 15,
311; cf. Reg. v, fol. 62).

153. Possibly the chapel of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, for the ornamentation of
which Richard Godfrey (1485) left 3s. 4d.,
together with money for the repair of the
candlestick hanging with the image of
the angel . . . . in the said chapel. Henry
Webbe (1500) desired to be buried in the
chapel of the Glorious Mary (Wills,
Archd. Hunt. Reg. ii, fol. 12; see also Reg.
iv, fol. 40; Reg. v, fol. 62). There were
also altars to the Trinity and St. Clement,
possibly in the north and south aisles
(ibid. Reg. iv, fol. 40; Reg. v, fol. 62).

154. From notes by Dr. T. P. Fernie, penes Mr. S. Inskip Ladds.
There is a bequest for mending the organs in the church of Kimbolton in 1485 (Wills, Archd. Hunt. Reg. ii, fol. 311).

161. In June 1748 Timothy Neve,
Archdeacon of Huntingdon, ordered the
register from 1647 to 1653 to be entered
on parchment (Rec. Archd. of Hunt.
no. 305, Archdeacon's Notebook).

162. In 1709 there were two cups and a
salver weighing 41¾ oz., one of the cups
inscribed 'The Gift of Henry Ashton,'
and a chalice (Rec. Archd. of Hunt.
no. 230, Terriers). In 1845 there were
one silver flagon weighing 45 oz., two
silver chalices about 30 oz., one paten
and one basin for the offertory together
25 oz. (Terrier at Kimbolton).